Foot appliance



Patented Oct. 1, 1 946 FOOI` APPLIANCE Bernard Ferrar, Chicago, Ill.Application September 30, 1943, Serial No. 504,364

3 Claims. (Cl. 36-7.8)

The invention relates to improvements in foo appliances and has for itsprimary object an improved foot appliance adapted to serve as asubstitute for shoes, which is of simple construction and highly eicientin use Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedappliance of the character indicated which is equipped with specialmeans for ready attachment or detachment of rollers.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this speciiication'and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an appliance embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section thereof takensubstantially on line 2--2 ofFig. l;

Fig. 3, a side view of a modified form of construction; and

Fig. 4, a view of a set of rollers equipped with means for attachingthem to the appliances shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

I'he embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. land 2 of thevdrawing comprises a'lower tread member formed of two identical platesI0, each equipped with rubber tread members I I providedat their topswith iieXible resilient lips I2, by means of which said tread membersmay be readily reversed or interchanged on plates I3 to yields 'undershocks and strains to cushion vthe' walking, running, jumping or skatingoperations of the wearer, lbut will hold the foot rest member in properrelation with the corresponding tread members during all conditions andwill prevent upward movement of the rest member beyond the point ofinitial compression of the Ysprings I6. Each rest member I4 is equippedwith a foot instep band adjustably connected by lacing 2l with the sidesthereof. A heel-embracing member `22 is connected at 23, as shown, withthe rear of the rest member I4 and the forward ends of the member 22 areformed into securing straps 24 adapted and arranged to -adjustablyengage buckles 25 on the rear edges of the instep band `2l). By thisarrangement a secure and adjustable attachment for the foot is provided.and

one which may be readily applied to or removed from the foot by merelyloosening or securing one of the side straps 24, as will be readilyunderstood.

In the modiiication illustrated in Fig. 3, I have shown an arrangementin which the tread mem- Eber 26 constitutes part of a at spring and isequipped on its bottom with rubber blocks 2'I and 28 having spaces 29lbetween* them. A resilient support for the foot restconsists of anotherpart 30 of the ilat' spring and exible tie members or chains 3|-, 32 and33 are connected as shown to limit the upward movement of the foot restI4 y and further tie the members together.

rest I4 is resiliently supported by means of two coiled compressionsprings I6 fitting at their ends vover short posts or projections I' Ion each of the plates I 0.

As indicated, each tread member IIJ- II is laterally extendedr at itsouter side beyond the corresponding spring I 6 to prevent turning oftheankles of the wearer.- Crossed chains IB and I9 are arrangedrespectively, longitudinally in'the center ofr and at each end of eachofthe plates I0, having their ends secured to said plates and foot restas shown. The springs I6 are placed under initial compressionsubstantially equal to Athat of the person intended to wear theappliance,

and held under said tension by the chains I3 and I9. In this Way aresilientrmounting is provided for the foot rest member which readily InFig. 4 I have illustrated a roller attachment for the appliancecomprising a` square axle 34 for rollers 35 at its ends and spring clips36, adapted and arranged to iit over the edges of the tread membersIIJ--I I and 26 with the square axle 34 fitting into the notches orspaces I3 or 29, as the case may be.

While I have illustrated and described the prefer-red forms ofconstruction for carrying the invention into effect, these are capableof varia,- tion and modification without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. I-Iowevery I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as fall within the scope of the apflexibly resilientreversible interchangeable tread bodies having lips tting over the edgesof said plates; a foot rest arranged above andresiliently supported onsaid tread member; and exible tie members placing said resilient supportunder tension and limiting the upward movement of 10 movement of saidfoot rest.

said foot rest.

3. A foot appliance having a tread member comprising two identicalsupporting plates; ilexible interchangeable tread bodies having lipstting over said plates; a foot rest arranged above and resilientlysupported on said tread members; and crossed flexible tie membersarranged longitudinally and laterally with their ends secured to saidtread and rest members placing said resilient support under tensionlimiting the upward BERNARD FERRAR.

